This Day in Rock History: May 7
1946
American singer-songwriter Bill Danoff, formerly of the Starland Vocal Band, was born in Springfield, MA. He wrote their hit song, Afternoon Delight. Happy 79th birthday, Bill!
American drummer Bill Kreutzmann, a founding member of the Grateful Dead, was born in Palo Alto, CA. He was the drummer for the band’s entire 30-year career, and has participated in several Grateful Dead spinoffs. Happy 79th birthday, Bill!
Former New York Dolls drummer Jerry Nolan was born in Brooklyn, NY. He joined the New York Dolls in the fall of 1972 after the death of drummer Billy Murcia. He died of HIV-related illness on Jan. 14, 1992, at the age of 45.
1961
Welsh guitarist Phil Campbell, formerly of Motörhead from 1984 through their 2015 disbandment, was born in Pontypridd, Wales. He replaced guitarist Brian Robertson after he left the band. Happy 64th birthday, Phil!
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1966
The Mamas & The Papas‘ song Monday Monday began a three-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart. The band apparently hated the song, aside from writer John Philips. Despite their distain for the song, it netted the group a Grammy for “Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.”
1972
A man named Reginald Dwight legally changed his name to “Elton John.” The rest is history.
1977
The Eagles earned their fourth No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with Hotel California.
1978
Without the aid of modern advertising, like social media, Bob Dylan sold out a 90,000-ticket show at London’s Wembley Empire Pool in less than eight hours.
1992
In the middle of their Japanese tour, Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante quit the band. He was reportedly unable to cope with the band’s recent rise in popularity. Frusciante would go on to battle drug addiction before going to rehab and changing his lifestyle. The band invited him back in 1998, before leaving again in 2009. He joined the Red Hot Chili Peppers again in 2019.
1998
Steve Perry officially leaves Journey for the final time, allowing guitarists Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain to reform the band without him. Journey replaced Perry with Steve Augeri, who remained with the band until 2006.
2016
Guns N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose takes over lead vocal duties for AC/DC at a show in Lisbon. Singer Brian Johnson was advised that continuing with the band’s tour would result in permanent hearing loss, so Rose finished out the tour with the band as a guest singer.
Following Prince‘s death on April 21, 2016, his albums, The Very Best of Prince and Purple Rain, reached No. 1 and No. 2 respectively on the Billboard Hot 200 charts.
